How To Get To The Millenium Cross

The Millennium Cross is one of the most iconic landmarks of Skopje. Standing tall on the top of Mount Vodno, it overlooks the city and can be seen from nearly every corner of the city center. Its illuminated silhouette at night has become a symbol of the Macedonian capital, admired both by locals and visitors alike.

The cross was constructed in 2002 to commemorate 2,000 years of Christianity in Macedonia and to honor the long Christian tradition in the region. At 66 meters in height, it is one of the largest crosses in the world and can be seen from miles away.

Funded by the Macedonian Orthodox Church, the Government of North Macedonia, and contributions from Macedonians worldwide, the monument represents both religious and national pride. The site has since become a popular attraction, drawing both pilgrims and tourists who wish to experience its panoramic views of Skopje and the surrounding mountains.

But how do you actually get there?

There are two main ways to reach the Millennium Cross, either by cable car or by hiking. The cable car covers the second half of the journey, but if you prefer a bit of exercise and adventure, hiking is a great option.

From the city center to Vodno Midway Point, the hike takes approximately one and a half hours. If you start from the base of the trail, the walk to the Midway Point is around 35 minutes (2.0 km). From there, it takes an additional 50 minutes (2.4 km) to reach the Millennium Cross. In total, the hike from the base to the top takes about 85 minutes (4.4 km) without breaks or photo stops.

Apart from hiking, there are two convenient ways to reach Vodno Midway Point, by taxi or by bus.

A taxi ride costs about 400 Macedonian Dinars each way, which is roughly 7 Euros or 8 Dollars. Keep in mind that Uber does not operate in Skopje, and it is generally not recommended to take a random taxi from the street due to frequent scams. Instead, you can use one of two reliable taxi apps, Wizi and BeeRide. Wizi is more popular but tends to crash frequently on some phones. BeeRide, on the other hand, works well when cars are available, although it is common to see all vehicles busy during peak times.

However, I personally recommend taking the bus. It is easy, inexpensive, and offers a pleasant local experience.

Bus number 25 is the only route that goes to Vodno Midway Point. Some online sources mention that it is the famous London double-decker bus, but this is somewhat misleading, as around 75% of all buses in Skopje are red double-deckers. There is no real difference between bus 25 and other routes.

One important thing to note is that bus line 25 does not appear on Google Maps. The bus departs from the Central Bus Station, located about a 25-minute walk from the city center. For most tourists, the most convenient stop is on Dimitrie Cupovski Street, just outside the Zito Leb Bakery, which is only one block away from Macedonia Square.

Above is a screenshot showing the location of the bus stop. It can be a bit tricky to find, as it is not always clearly marked. Some sources online even claim that the bus stops outside Hotel Bristol, which is incorrect. The actual stop is located about two blocks from Hotel Bristol. Click here to view the correct location of the bus stop on Google Maps.

On weekends, the bus leaves this stop at 10 and 40 minutes past the hour during the daytime, with less frequent departures on weekdays. I read online that the bus is free on weekends, and although there is no official signage confirming this, a passenger asked the driver on my trip and it turned out to be true. As of autumn 2025, bus rides to Vodno are indeed free on both Saturdays and Sundays.

The fare is not a major consideration anyway. A single ticket costs just 40 Macedonian Dinars, which is less than one Euro or Dollar. Contrary to what some online guides claim, you do not need to go to the Central Bus Station to buy a day pass or ticket bundle. You can purchase your ticket directly on the bus using the contactless readers, or you can download the official SkopjeBus app.

The app is available in the app store and provides up-to-date timetables for all routes, as well as live tracking for each bus. This feature proved very useful to me, as I could see that bus 25 was running about ten minutes late, ensuring that I had not missed it.

The ride itself takes around 16 minutes and offers surprisingly beautiful views of Skopje. In fact, you may find that the views from the bus are even better than those from the Millennium Cross itself.

When I visited, it took me over an hour to reach the Millennium Cross, yet I only spent about twenty minutes at the top before heading back down. The main reason for this is the schedule of the cable car, which operates on a peculiar timetable. It runs for the first 30 minutes of every hour, and remains closed for the second 30 minutes.

This means that if you arrive at the base just after it closes, you will have to wait half an hour for the next ride. For example, I took the bus that departed from Macedonia Square at 14:10, and when I arrived at the cable car station, it had just closed for its 30-minute break. Consequently, I had to wait until the next opening.

Knowing this in advance, I realized that once I was at the top, I only had about 20 minutes to look around before the cable car closed again, or I would have had to wait another 30 minutes for the return trip.

There is not much to do at the top. The views of the landscape are pleasant, but surprisingly, the city itself is not very visible from that height. There is a small playground and two cafés where you can relax and enjoy a coffee or snack, making it a suitable destination for families or couples.

The operating hours are also limited, from 10:00 to 20:00 during the summer months, and from 10:00 to 17:00 during the winter season, so it is important to plan your visit accordingly to avoid unnecessary waiting times.

Is It Worth Visiting the Millennium Cross?

Whether it is worth the trip depends on what you are looking for. If you are traveling with children or as a couple, it can be a pleasant outing, especially with the cafés and play area available. However, for solo travelers or those visiting with friends, it might not justify the time it takes to get there.

For me, it was more of a “been there, done that” experience, something to see once and then move on. The journey is enjoyable, and the logistics are easy to manage, but the highlight itself is relatively brief.